The gala held at La Misericòrdia honoured composer Alexandre Desplat with the Master of Cinema Award and hosted the Spanish premiere of El ser querido, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s new film starring Javier Bardem and Victoria Luengo.
Photos: Casa Real.
The Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest brought its 16th edition to a close on Sunday, 2 August, with a gala presided over by Queen Letizia at the Centre Cultural La Misericòrdia in Palma. The ceremony marked the culmination of ten days of cinema, music and cultural events, bringing together leading representatives from the film industry and public institutions.
Upon her arrival, the Queen was welcomed by the President of the Spanish Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol; the President of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens; the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez; the President of the Council of Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés; and the festival’s director, Jaume Ripoll, among other authorities.
Queen Letizia also greeted composer Alexandre Desplat, director Rodrigo Sorogoyen and actor Javier Bardem, some of the leading figures of an evening that once again placed Palma at the centre of the film world.
The gala began with a performance by Mallorcan singer Júlia Colom, followed by an address from Jaume Ripoll and the presentation of the main awards of this year’s edition.
Alexandre Desplat receives the Master of Cinema Award
One of the highlights of the closing ceremony was the presentation of the 2026 Master of Cinema Award to French composer Alexandre Desplat. Queen Letizia took to the stage to personally present him with the award following the screening of a video paying tribute to his career.
Desplat is regarded as one of the most influential film composers of recent decades. His credits include films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Shape of Water, Little Women, The King’s Speech and several Wes Anderson productions. He has received twelve Academy Award nominations and won two Oscars.
Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest 2026 award winners
The film Lionel, directed by Carlos Saiz, won the award for Best Film in the Official Section. Combining elements of fiction and documentary, the feature follows a father and son on a road trip from Murcia to northern France.
The Dama Agustí Villaronga Award for Best Spanish Film went to Mala bèstia, the debut feature by Bàrbara Farré. In the Talent Balear competition, Joan Porcel’s La carn was named Best Feature Film, while Júlia Castaño’s La barraca received the award for Best Short Film.
The new Trends section recognised Elliot Tuttle’s Blue Film, while the Fundación Banco Sabadell Audience Award went to the documentary El ciclo del amor, directed by Orlando von Einsiedel.
Spanish premiere of El ser querido
The closing ceremony concluded with the presentation and screening of El ser querido, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s new film, which celebrated its Spanish premiere in Palma after competing in the Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival.
Sorogoyen presented the film alongside several members of its team, including Javier Bardem, Victoria Luengo, Raúl Arévalo, Melina Matthews and screenwriter Isabel Peña.
The film follows a renowned filmmaker who reunites with his daughter to offer her a role in his next project. The professional proposal ultimately brings old family wounds, abandonment and past conflicts to the surface.
A record-breaking edition in Palma
The 16th edition of the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest concluded its in-person programme with 53,500 attendees, the highest figure recorded by the festival to date. Activities were held at venues including La Misericòrdia, Ses Voltes, Es Baluard Museu, CineCiutat, Sala Rívoli and Fundació Miró Mallorca.
Although the in-person screenings and activities ended on 2 August, the festival’s online edition will remain available on Filmin until 24 August.
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